The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-03-18
WASHINGTON CITY IN 1862.

Quorum by the ltiH-1taff Of all Crea-
tiOn-What q War Correspondent Saw.
Washington at the time went there in
July, 1882, was cesspool into which drained
all the iniquity and filth of the nation. It
was filled with runaway negroes, contract
ors, adventures, Office seekers, gamblers,
confidence mon, courtesans, uniformed
officers Sinking their duty, and the ri1-raff,
the offscourings Of oil creation. The streets
were dirty, the hotel but little better than
kennels, the boarding houses unclean and ex-
tortionate, and, although there was a pre-
tense that Intoxicating liquors were not sold,
drink could be had anywhere and universal
drunkenness prevailed.
In addition to these characteristics the city
was m immense hospital. Every church
was occupied by the sick and wounded; the
aisles, galleries and ante rooms were thronged
with patients. Every vacant lot was occu-
pied with long, low, temporary structures
devoted to tho victims of the war; Nearly
every house Of moro than ordinary maGni-
tudo had sentry in front Of it, while the
pale faces at the windows indicated the usc
to which it was being put by the authorities.
All the heights about the city for miles were
covered with whitewashed buildings, which
were craInncd with sick and wounded Fed
eral soldiers.
had little hospital experience which is
,.a..slaast caeia.s II not very interesting. Il
encountered one day an old. acquaintance,
DR.. Robert Thomas, whom had known in
the west, and who informed mo that he was
in charge Of Kalarama hospital, and in
vited me to visit him. I agreed, and we
were soon whirling out into the suburbs in
an ambulance and behind q speedy pair OF
horses which the government had placed ct
the disposition Of the surgeon. Kalarama
heights, as the name indicates, Is beautiful
location, none more SO being ct that time in
the vicinity Of the capital. On the grounds
was a magnificent building which had once
belonged to the famous Joel Barlow, but
which had been taken by the government
for hospital. We dove through magnif-
cent surroundings and finally found ourselves
seated in sumptuously furnished drawing
room which tho doctor reserved for the re-
ception Of visitors. He produced some bot
ties Of wine, which, being excellent in quail
ity, the weather hot, and we very thirsty
after the drive, were swallowed with salts
faction and without limit.
An hour or 50 later the hospital surgeon
invited me to look through the wards. He
had, he assured me, the model institution Of
the kind in the north. We went through |
splendid rooms, clean and palatial enough
for the residences of princes. In each there
were cots occupied by tho soldiers, oil of
whom seemed so comfortable that thought
that being i'll under such circumstances was
a luxury which would tempt Sybarite
The last room we visited was one occupied
by "contrabands," concerning whom the
doctor remarked with q peculiar smile:
These are cases of variola nigra'
The play on the word nigra first attracted
my attention, and responded with the
"Ah, yes, very goodr' and then
instantly there flashed over me the meaning
Of the other word, variola.
Good heavens! doctor, do you mean
srnaupox?'
"That's the English Of it.'' :
"And you are in charge of a.
"Smallpox hospital Yes, that's it. This a
8 the largest establishment of the kind in
The north, and the BEST too, If do say it,
l was shocked, alarmed, frightened, hor
flied and intensely outraged at tho trick r
which had been perpetrated on mo. at e
empted tho indignant; mathematical the j;
loctor in the most vigorous English could d
and finally became silent for want =
f breath. AT length determined to mako
no most OF the situation, and, supposing .
hat would DO certain to have the disease, \
sent Tor my traps and resolved to remain ;,
4 tho hospital till l had the malady, so that
might receive proper treatment =
/ stayed at Kalarama for two months
'aiting for an attack Of smallpox. went
RELY through the wards talked with the
atients, and made no effort to avoid the
ontagion, os felt cerain that I would be
ttackcd. At the end of two months had
rrorioncad - |
ecoming satisfied that was, for the nonce,
nallpox proof, moved back into the city
:" Polinto" in Chicago Times.
A skillful wife can feed her husband into
,olth or sickness